Healthy Children, Healthy Communities: Co-Benefits of Children’s Action on Climate Change and Mental Health

Problem: British Columbia is being increasingly impacted by climate change and therefore the health and wellbeing of children in this region are at risk, and will be throughout their lives unless action is taken.

Overview: Conducted for, by and with children, this research will answer 2 questions: How is children’s health being impacted by climate change? Can taking action on climate change through community projects, strengthen and build resilience in children, even in the age of climate change? A central focus of this work will be on mental health and wellbeing.

Outcomes: After filling a significant scientific knowledge gap about the public health impacts of climate change on children in BC, evidence gathered will be used to help develop community projects that tackle a local impact of climate change.

Impacts: This research will identify why and how certain community projects on climate change protect, and even improve, the mental health and wellbeing of children and make recommendations for how other communities can use this information to build their own healthy children, healthy community projects. These successes will be shared with decision makers to support the choices they make around climate change and health.